Delight as photographers capture majestic bird spotted in Bolton
Keen photographers have captured stunning pictures of the majestic Kingfisher in Bolton, which is home to the aptly named Kingfisher trail.
Although Kingfishers are widespread and can be found on almost any river bank or canal, they are, according to The Wildlife Trusts, 'surprisingly tricky to spot'.
Members of The Bolton News Camera Club have caught the river bird in Smithills.
Kingfishers, with their stunning colours. fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface.
This beautiful photo captures a Kingfisher in Smithills. (Image: Lisa Rayner) The above photograph by Lisa Rayner show a fledged Kingfisher, which was captured in Smithills.
Smithills ward Cllr Sue Priest said: 'We are very lucky to have such a wealth of green spaces in Smithills.
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'I know that we have had a number of sightings around the area, including at the Doffcocker Lodge and around Smithills Hall Estate too.
This Kingfisher was also spotted in Bolton. (Image: Ewa Heska) 'The Smithills Community Alliance have been working tirelessly to rehabilitate wildlife in the area, such as putting newts back into the ponds and restoring walkways.
'Our local groups have made a brilliant difference to out green spaces here at Smithills.'
Chair of the community group, Friends of Longsight Park, home of the Kingfisher Trail, Jane Wilcock said: 'Kingfishers are distinctive fish feeding birds.
'There have been plenty of sightings around the borough. I know that they have been spotted down Bradshaw Valley, Jumbles Reservoir, Longsight Park and of course the famous Kingfisher trail.'
Bolton's famous Kingfisher Trail consists of a scenic 14-mile route connecting the rural West Pennine Moors to the centres of Bury, Bolton and Salford.
Bolton's 14-mile Kingfisher trail. (Image: Nick Haworth) The trail connects sites including Ringley Woods, Philips Park, Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, Moses Gate Country Park, Leverhulme Park and Upper Bradshaw Valley Nature Reserve.
The trail was originally set up by the Croal-Irwell Valley Ranger Service in the early 1990s to highlight the incredible abundance of wildlife reclaiming a once industrial valley.
Sights on the King Fisher Trail include Bradshaw Hall, Rock Hall Firwood Fold Meccano Bridge,
The Kingfisher Trail is home to a wide range of wildlife species and provides a recreation resource which is important for the region's people, wildlife and heritage.
Jane added: 'Kingfishers usually have more muted markings when they are younger, these become brighter with age.
'People usually only see a flash of a blue arrow; they can be quite speedy!
'Although the birds have always been seen around the Bolton borough, I would say that sightings are becoming more frequent – although I'm not sure if this is because people are remembering to keep an eye out for them!'
Secretary of the Bradshaw Brook Fly Fishing Club John Frazer: 'The group has been undergoing insect monitoring since last year, which can to monitor the health of the river.
'A healthy insect population would indicate a healthy fish population, which therefore means that Kingfishers will have an abundance of food.'
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June 4 1870 — Ed Brown becomes the first African-American jockey to win the Belmont Stakes, with Kingfisher. 1927 — The United States wins the first Ryder Cup golf tournament by beating Britain 9½-2½. 1932 — Faireno, ridden by Tommy Malley, wins the Belmont Stakes by 1½ lengths over Osculator. Burgoo King, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, doesn't race. Advertisement 1966 — Ameroid, ridden by Bill Boland, wins the Belmont Stakes by 2½ lengths over Buffle. Kauai King, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, finishes fourth. 1974 — NFL grants franchise to Seattle Seahawks. 1984 — 1960 champion Arnold Palmer fails to qualify for the US Open Golf Championship for the first time in 32 years. 1987 — Danny Harris defeats Edwin Moses in the 400 hurdles at a meet in Madrid, ending the longest winning streak in track and field. Moses, had won 122 consecutive races dating to Aug. 26, 1977. 1988 — West Germany's Steffi Graf beats 17-year-old Natalia Zvereva of the Soviet Union in 32 minutes with a 6-0, 6-0 victory to win the French Open for the second straight year. Advertisement 1990 — Penn State is voted into the Big Ten. The school becomes the 11th member of the league and first addition to the Midwest-based conference since Michigan State in 1949. 1994 — Haile Gebrselassie becomes the first Ethiopian to set a world track record with a time of 12:56.96 in the men's 5,000 meters at Hengelo, Netherlands. 1998 — Harut Karapetyan of the LA Galaxy scores three goals in five minutes for the fastest hat trick in MLS history in an 8-1 rout of the Dallas Burn. The seven-goal margin sets an MLS record. 2005 — Justine Henin-Hardenne beats a rattled and fumbling Mary Pierce 6-1, 6-1 to win the French Open, capping a comeback from a blood virus with her fourth Grand Slam title and her second at Roland Garros. Advertisement 2005 — Eddie Castro sets a North American record for most wins by a jockey in one day at one track, winning nine races on the 13-race card at Miami's Calder Race Course. 2008 — The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 11 seasons with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 . 2009 — Randy Johnson earns his 300th win, becoming the 24th major league pitcher to reach the milestone by leading San Francisco to a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader. 2011 — Li Na becomes the first Chinese — man or woman — to win a Grand Slam singles title. She beats Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the French Open final for her fifth career title and first on clay. Advertisement 2016 — Garbine Muguruza wins her first Grand Slam title by beating defending champion Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4 at the French Open, denying the American her record-equaling 22nd major trophy. 2019 — San Francisco Giant Manager Bruce Bochy wins his 1,000th game as the manager of the Giants with a 9-3 victory over the New York Mets. _____
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Delight as photographers capture majestic bird spotted in Bolton
Keen photographers have captured stunning pictures of the majestic Kingfisher in Bolton, which is home to the aptly named Kingfisher trail. Although Kingfishers are widespread and can be found on almost any river bank or canal, they are, according to The Wildlife Trusts, 'surprisingly tricky to spot'. Members of The Bolton News Camera Club have caught the river bird in Smithills. Kingfishers, with their stunning colours. fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface. This beautiful photo captures a Kingfisher in Smithills. (Image: Lisa Rayner) The above photograph by Lisa Rayner show a fledged Kingfisher, which was captured in Smithills. Smithills ward Cllr Sue Priest said: 'We are very lucky to have such a wealth of green spaces in Smithills. READ MORE: 'I know that we have had a number of sightings around the area, including at the Doffcocker Lodge and around Smithills Hall Estate too. This Kingfisher was also spotted in Bolton. (Image: Ewa Heska) 'The Smithills Community Alliance have been working tirelessly to rehabilitate wildlife in the area, such as putting newts back into the ponds and restoring walkways. 'Our local groups have made a brilliant difference to out green spaces here at Smithills.' Chair of the community group, Friends of Longsight Park, home of the Kingfisher Trail, Jane Wilcock said: 'Kingfishers are distinctive fish feeding birds. 'There have been plenty of sightings around the borough. I know that they have been spotted down Bradshaw Valley, Jumbles Reservoir, Longsight Park and of course the famous Kingfisher trail.' Bolton's famous Kingfisher Trail consists of a scenic 14-mile route connecting the rural West Pennine Moors to the centres of Bury, Bolton and Salford. Bolton's 14-mile Kingfisher trail. (Image: Nick Haworth) The trail connects sites including Ringley Woods, Philips Park, Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, Moses Gate Country Park, Leverhulme Park and Upper Bradshaw Valley Nature Reserve. The trail was originally set up by the Croal-Irwell Valley Ranger Service in the early 1990s to highlight the incredible abundance of wildlife reclaiming a once industrial valley. Sights on the King Fisher Trail include Bradshaw Hall, Rock Hall Firwood Fold Meccano Bridge, The Kingfisher Trail is home to a wide range of wildlife species and provides a recreation resource which is important for the region's people, wildlife and heritage. Jane added: 'Kingfishers usually have more muted markings when they are younger, these become brighter with age. 'People usually only see a flash of a blue arrow; they can be quite speedy! 'Although the birds have always been seen around the Bolton borough, I would say that sightings are becoming more frequent – although I'm not sure if this is because people are remembering to keep an eye out for them!' Secretary of the Bradshaw Brook Fly Fishing Club John Frazer: 'The group has been undergoing insect monitoring since last year, which can to monitor the health of the river. 'A healthy insect population would indicate a healthy fish population, which therefore means that Kingfishers will have an abundance of food.'
